Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – A state minister on Friday delivered documents on the alleged May 1998 mass rape of mostly ethnic Chinese women to the Attorney General's Office (AGO).
State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Farida Swasono handed over the documents to Attorney General Hendarman Supandji.
The minister's deputy for women's protection Subagyo told The Jakarta Post the documents contained results of research by psychology professor and women's activist Saparinah Sadli.
The research, sponsored by the National Commission on Violence Against Women, found that between May 13 and July 13, 1998, at least 152 women in Greater Jakarta were attacked.
Of this number, 103 were raped (one died), 26 were raped and beaten (nine died), nine were raped and burned alive (all died) and 14 experienced other physical and sexual abuses (one died). Most of these victims were Chinese-Indonesians between the ages of five and 55.
The rapes allegedly took place following widespread anger directed at the country's citizens of Chinese ethnicity, who were accused of being more affluent than other ethnic groups.
"Professor Sadli and her team conducted this research to prove the rape of women of Chinese ethnicity did indeed occur during the May riots," Subagyo said.
He said the research data was collected from 25 respondents consisting of two rape victims, 12 victims' companions and 11 informants. The ministerial office received the research report from the University of Indonesia professor and the women's commission last week.
Sabagyo said the state ministry "has done its job as the vanguard of women's protection. It is now the AGO's duty to follow up on our report".
The alleged rapes have historically received little attention, in part due to lack of evidence and other difficulties in confirming whether the rapes did occur.
The ministry said the interviewed victims had chosen to remain silent to protect their reputations and to avoid further traumatic experiences. Activists managed only to collect testimonies from third parties and victims using pseudonymous.
AGO spokesman BD Nainggolan told the Post the AGO would study the documents from the minister, but added that state prosecutors had no authority to follow up on such cases.
"If it concerns rape... it falls under the police's authority. If it was a human rights violation, then it is the authority of the National Commission on Human Rights," he said. "What we can do perhaps is to give our legal perspective to the police and the commission."
Subagyo said the ministry also planned to submit the research documents to the National Police chief and the Indonesian Military chief.